In the glut of programming under the ever increasing banner "Reality TV"each summer offers a small shining light of joy that comes to us in the form of So You Think You Can Dance. Tonight marks the end of Season 10. It has been a mixed bag of talent and performance this season. Not a surprising result for a show entering double digit seasons. Personally I am pulling for Aaron Turner tonight. He's been the story and heart of the show this season. After not making the top 20 he wound up serving as a last minute replacement after another dancer was injured. He entered the competition with the deck a little stacked against him. He was an alternate, a tapper and the third tapper at that. He also had limited prep time in the run up to the competition starting. That is what makes his season glorious. As the first tapper to make the final four Aaron has a legitimate chance to win tonight. If he does it will be on the foundation of his charismatic ease on the stage and chameleon like ability to take on new styles of dance. Aaron was never in the bottom group so we've only seen him dance in his own style twice, in the season opener and last week's finale. A constant cadence this season was how we all forgot he was a tapper. Not Aaron. Aaron knows who he is as a dancer and a performer. It is that maturity and confidence that makes him special. It is what I believe will propel him from 21st to champion tonight. Aaron possesses that elusive 'it' quality. He distinguished himself early in the competition and hasn't looked back. Battling injury the last few weeks may have compromised his technique but it only steadied his resolve, commitment to craft and dedication to finish what he started. Yes, @Dance10Aaron is a great ambassador for tap and dance. More importantly he is the embodiment of what can happen when opportunity meets talent and is driven with humility.
In spite of how much I enjoyed watching the dancers develop and grow I found the bulk of the season to be uneven both in performance and choreography. For every moment like this with Twitch and Fik-Shun...
there were a dozen or so that just didn't connect. I believe there was a distinct fatigue in the choreography this season that didn't serve the dancers as well and the judging panel offered little relief with inconsistent messages and overt favoritism when it wasn't being dragged down by FOX cross promotions (Erin Andrews I am looking directly at you). That said, the season was not without its moments of brilliance. For a really nice highlight summary of this year's best dances I suggest you head over to Nerdy Girl Notes and read her Top 10 dances from season 10. I may not agree with the order or even some of the choices she's made, but her analysis of each displays the beauty and joy this show delivers each and every season.
That leads me to my humble recommendations for keeping my favorite summer show on the air.
UPDATE: I am happy to report Season 11 will be a reality in 2014!
For all my irritation at Nigel Lythgoe from the judges seat he has shown a deft hand at keeping the show fresh and interesting, introducing all-stars being the pinnacle of those choices. So it is with respect and a strong desire to see the show excel that I offer these ideas for refreshing the format once again.
1) Three words: All Star Season
No this is not an original idea, many reality shows have done it with varying degrees of success. However, the stable of potential is particularly high for this show. After 10 seasons there are 200 dancers from the top 20 alone. There are only a handful who have gained notoriety like Twitch. Which leaves a great pool of talent to bring into the mix for a new season. We all have favorites who we thought went home too soon and having a collection of 20 dancers who understand how the show works could make for some spectacular routines and a really emotionally charged season. And can you imagine the tour?
2) More All Star Choreographers
The absolute best decision that Nigel made this season was designating a week where the all-stars choreographed their routines. The success of Travis Wall makes me question why we haven't seen more of it. Mark, Alison, Twitch and several others had varying degrees accomplishments during that week, but to a one it was interesting. What's undeniable is the fact that it was the most exciting week of the season. It had an energy and freshness that has been sorely lacking throughout season 10. I love NappyTabs, Mia, Stacey and the stable of terrific choreographers So You Think You Can Dance has introduced me to over the years. I also know their styles so well it has become repetitive and sadly boring. The best energy I have seen this season from our regular choreographers were the wonderful ensemble numbers (see #4 for my additional thoughts on this.), especially those where two of them collaborated.
By enlisting past contestants as choreographers you have built in curiosity and investment from the viewers. These are people we know, routed for and enjoyed. It is a natural progression for the show to make and the popularity of Travis Wall supports the theory in spades.
3) Change the audition process and increase airtime for Vegas week
One of the things that sets So You Think You Can Dance apart from other competition shows is how it handles the audition process. They have always limited the number of people they put on display for shock and humor value. The bulk of auditions are actual dancers with varying degrees of skill and styles. However, after 10 seasons they have grown a little long in the teeth. I have three variations on how to address this issue. 1) Eliminate all but one two hour audition episode that highlights what we need to see and the best of the best from the road. If possible, by doing so bring back a 30 minute elimination episode. 2) Again, limit auditions to a two hour highlight episode and put more emphasis on Vegas week, especially focusing on partnering and providing viewers with more opportunities to see full performances at that time. 3) Limit auditions and add in rehearsal process. We see 'cute' video segments prior to performance, but I have always wondered about the what happens in the gap between Vegas week and first show. I think this is an opportunity where the show can tap into viewers interest in the choreographers whose work we've watched for years and gain insight to their process.
4) Increase the number of ensemble pieces
From the beginning one of the best aspects of So You Think You Can Dance was the explosive ensemble routines. It offered storytelling, diverse skill, broad choreography and a chance to see which dancers stood out and which fell to the background. Wade Robeson's Ramalama Bang Bang ranks to this day as one of the greatest moments on the show. Expanding the scope under which the choreographers can work will raise the level of intrigue and I suspect inspire those long associated with the show to do new things. The ensembles can be varied in size and scope but should be a competitive part of the show from week one.
5) Make solos a regular part of the show and eliminate the 'dance for your life'.
Dance for your life has always been a weak link to the show. It's an afterthought really and this season proved it once and for all when Nigel started sending dancers on the brink of elimination back without dancing a solo. I believe the solo is a unique opportunity that has been sacrificed and could easily be resurrected. You can have them choreographed instead of leaving it up to the exhausted and overtaxed dancers needing to create their own. It would allow the viewers to see a dancer at their potential best and in their own style. If they had an off week or a dance that wasn't particularly strong it could truly serve as a 'dance to stay in the competition' without it feeling forced or fake. I remain convinced that Jeanine Mason won her season on the strength and guts of her solo in the finale. Every dancer on the show has the potential to have that kind of moment. It's a strength they should lean into while abandoning the staged suspense around 'dancing for your life'. Given it's unlikely the show will get back a results show this is a way to highlight individual performance without making it an afterthought.
Any of these could enhance and help bring a fresh perspective on a show in need of a boost. With the loss of true variety shows and the propensity to show people behaving badly on TV So You Think You Can Dance remains a breath of fresh air in the doldrums of the summer heat. A show capable of transmitting joy, talent and inspiration deserves to carry on each summer. What would you do to make it better? Perhaps Uncle Nigel is listening.
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